ilus abortivus. Two-thirds natural
size, showing the grayish-brown cap and solid stem.]

Abortivus means abortive or imperfectly developed; so called from its
many irregular and undeveloped forms.

The pileus is fleshy, firm, convex, or nearly plane, regular or
irregular, dry, clothed with a minute silky tomentum, becoming smoother
with age, gray or grayish-brown, flesh white, taste and odor
subfarinaceous.

The gills are slightly or deeply decurrent, at first whitish or pale
gray, then flesh-colored. Spores irregular, 7.5-10x6.5u.

The stem is nearly equal, solid, minutely flocculose, sometimes fibrous,
striate, paler than the pileus. _Peck_, 42d Report N. Y.

There are often three forms of this plant; a perfect form, an imperfect
form, and an abortive form as will be seen in Figure 203. The abortive
forms seem to be more common, especially in this locality. They will be
taken at first to be some form of puff-ball. They are found in open
woods and in ravines. I found some very fine specimens under beech trees
on Cemetery Hill. They are, however, widely distributed over the state
and the United States. The specimens in Figure 203 were collected near
Ashville and photographed by Prof. Beardslee.

[Illustration: Figure 203.--Clitopilus abortivus. Abortive forms.
Edible.]

_Clitopilus subvilis. Pk._

THE SILKY-CAPPED CLITOPILUS. EDIBLE.

Subvilis means very cheap, insignificant.

The pileus is thin, centrally depressed or umbilicate, with the margin
decurved, hygrophanus, dark-brown, striate on the margin when moist,
taste farinaceous.

The gills are subdistant, adnate, or slightly decurrent, whitish when
young, then flesh-colored.

The stem is slender, brittle, rather long, stuffed or hollow, glabrous,
colored like the pileus or a little paler.

The spores are angular, 7.5-10u. _Peck_, 42d Rept.

This plant is distinguished from Clitopilus villis by its shining
pileus, widely separated gills, and farinaceous taste. Found on
Ralston's Run and in Haynes' Hollow, near Chillicothe, from July to
October.

_Clitopilus Noveboracensis. Pk._

[Illustration: Figure 204.--Clitopilus Noveboracensis. Two-thirds
natural size.]

Noveboracensis, the New York Clitopilus. Pileus thin, convex, then
expanded or slightly depressed; dingy-white, cracked in areas or
concentrically rivulose, sometimes obscurely zonate; odor farinaceous,
taste bitter.

Gills narrow, close, deeply decurrent, some of them forked, white,